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Washington: Even with India's last-minute revival of a languishing civil nuclear accord with the United States, it may be too late for time-pressed US lawmakers to ratify what has been one of President George W. Bush's top foreign policy initiatives.
The Bush administration hopes the agreement will form the cornerstone of a closer relationship with a democratic, economically vibrant country that borders nuclear-armed China.
After months of deadlock, India is confident it now has the political support at home for the deal. But it could be weeks, or even months, before the accord is taken up by crucial international organisations and, if approved, is then sent to the US Congress for final approval.
By then, American lawmakers probably would have only a handful of days left in their legislative calendar. The lack of time even has supporters sceptical about the immediate future of the deal, which would allow shipments of atomic fuel and technology to India.
"There's not that many days left to do this, assuming they act yesterday," Democratic Representative Gary Ackerman, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia and the self-described "lead cheerleader" for the deal, said in an interview.
"It's not impossible but highly unlikely that they've done this thing in time."
The next US president could take up the accord in January. Failure to secure approval under Bush, however, would leave it to an uncertain fate.
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